Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Primer Seating Problem

Hello all, not sure if this subject has been posted before...apologies if it has. I've had problems seating Fed. 210M primers in five different makes of .308 brass. About 2 out of 10 simply won't seat fully. I purchased this batch sometime in the past 18 months, prior to this, had no problem with Fed. 210M's.
CCI Benchrest and WW work fine, just the Fed match. Any ideas?

Best regards

Paul

Primer pocket uniformer is your friend any brand will do.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1064338732

That tool cuts for depth. Any trouble I've ever had with the Federals had to do with diameter.

Sounds like he is having a depth problem.

What seating tool are you using? I know my RCBS benchtop seater allows for some adjustment by screwing the seater plug in or out.

OK, let's be explicit. What exactly is the difficulty? Do they go in smooth and easy, but just won't go in far enough to be slightly below flush? Are they very tight going in, enough so that the force required to push them in sufficiently is defeating your seating method?

Agreed on diameter with Feds.

Federals seem to run a bit fat, and Remingtons a touch on the skinny side, in my experience, at least with LRP.

Unlikely - the OP said he had difficulty WITH 5 DIFFERENT BRANDS OF CASES.

Seems like someone posted this info here on the 'Fire a while back:

To the OP, do you have a good micrometer? If so, provide the cup diameter of the offending primers.

Bingo

Thanks guys, primer pockets have been uniformed using a Lyman tool. Mathman/MuskegMan you are correct, it appears width of the Federal primers is the problem. Not sure what can be done about it. No MuskegMan, my micrometer isn't that great! Some primers seat properly, others, do not. I'd have to say they are crooked or tilted in the primer pocket.

Really appreciate all your comments!

I just primed some Norma 1x fired brass with 210M primers and they were very tight. Using a Frankfort Arsenal hand primer. I primed some regular 210 primers in some 7.62x51 brass a while back that seated fine. All recent production primers.

Hey Paul, I hope all is well for you guys!

What primer seating tool are you using?

Federal primers are the ones you save for when the others become too loose.
Always nice to have options.

Hey Jordan...we are well thanks!. Trust you are as well. I just use the tool on my press. Going slower may help, but I should try and get another seating tool.

Paul

One thing that's worked for me, when I've ran into a batch of hard seating of primers. Take a #2 pencil and run it around sides a couple times. It has graphite that lets primer slip in easier. Give it a try.
I use the old style Lee hand primer.

I have had problems with Federal but only the depth. If I don’t clean the pocket well they don’t go flush. Mostly 215’s in magnums.

This is strange. The only problem I've ever had seating primers were with WLR's. I use Fed 210 and 215 more than any other primer, and can't really recall having to put any special effort into seating them.

The only primers I have ever used that didn't seat as flush as they should were Remington 9 1/2 primers.

I've run into tall batches of the 9 1/2. I have to cut the pockets to the full .132" depth for them.

Thanks for the help guys. Much appreciated! Have a good one.

Paul